Death of successful cricketer and breeder Ray Hitchcock at age of 89

Ray Hitchcock, the former Warwickshire cricketer who ran Messinger Stud in Solihull, has died at the age of 89.

Born on November 28, 1929 in Christchurch, New Zealand, Hitchcock came to England in 1949 for a two-week trial for Warwickshire, for whom he was to play first-class cricket until 1964, scoring more than 12,000 runs and taking 182 wickets.

He was part of the 1951 championship-winning team and was the last survivor. During his early years he instigated the 'Warwickshire Pool' to raise funds for improving the Edgbaston ground at a time the club was struggling financially. The initiative was a phenomenal success and helped underpin the club and its future.

Ray Hitchcock (back row, far right) with his 1951-championship-winning side

In 1956 Hitchcock opened a sports outfitter shop in Solihull, and he was to open a second shop in the town and work in the business until retiring in 1990.

A major passion was horseracing, which started with a share in Fear Naught, winner of the 1978 Royal Hunt Cup. Spurred on by the triumph, Hitchcock and wife Anne formed Messinger Stud, where they bred many winners until final retirement in 2017.

Ray Hitchcock (right) with his 1978 Royal Hunt Cup winner Fear Naught

The 30-acre stud's success stories were headlined by Royal Ascot winner Gipsy Fiddler and Two Clubs, a Listed winner who landed five of her 12 races.

Gipsy Fiddler's royal meeting success came in the 1990 Windsor Castle Stakes under Pat Eddery, riding him for Jonjo O'Neill. Gipsy Fiddler, who was by Bairn out of Miss Cindy, was also third in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes.

Two Clubs was Gipsy Fiddler's half-sister, by First Trump, and was a dual Listed winner, landing the Doncaster Stakes and Prix Contessina at Maisons-Laffitte, the latter victory coming on the penultimate run of her racing career in 1999.

Two Clubs was covered by Red Ransom to produce Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner Red Clubs, who became a very good but ill-fated sire, succumbing to an injury sustained at stud in 2011, with the Racing Post writing at the time that "the premature death of Red Clubs has robbed the industry of a highly promising young stallion".

Another Listed winner bred by Messinger Stud was Joint Aspiration, by Pivotal out of Welcome Home and winner of the Gaviola Stakes at Belmont Park in 2005.

Hitchcock is survived by wife Anne, son Allan and daughters Amanda and Sandra. His funeral will be at midday on Tuesday, October 1 at Robin Hood Crematorium, Streetsbrook Road, Shirley, Solihull B90 3NL.